So, I'm cleaning the kitchen yesterday evening. Thank goodness the landlord has fixed the sink and all is well, but nasty plungers have been in it so I must initiate massive decontamination proceedures. This is going to take a while. But hey, I have 4 pounds of scrubbed potatoes in the fridge! I wrap one in foil and throw it in the oven at 400 degrees. Forty minutes later a thought occurs to me. Where are the left-over latkes? The ones I so carefully stood up-right in a loaf pan so they would stay crispy? Oh no!

Next steps: Open oven. #&**! Grab for loaf pan filled with dark brown potato pancakes with dish towel. Burn fingers. Drop loaf pan on floor. Close oven. Observe pile of burnt grated potatoes and puddle of oil on floor. Decide to deal with it later and go back to cleaning, periodically stepping around mess.

Two and a half hours later, the kitchen and floor were clean, and I realized again just how lucky I am when my husband (working late) brought home dinner.

All-in-all, it was fun, and since I have lots more potatoes, I might try it again later - but this time, I will not put the potato peels down the garbage disposal.

-mapletree, providing jewish stream-of-consciousness since May 2001